The primary group hoping to purchase the Vancouver Whitecaps and relocate the MLS club to Las Vegas is being led by Grant Gustavson, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
Gustavson is the son of billionaire Tamara Gustavson, who is one of the wealthiest women in America, worth an estimated $8.5 billion according to Forbes. She is the largest individual shareholder of Public Storage, and part owner of the Spendthrift Farm, a prominent racehorse breeding farm. He is the grandson of B. Wayne Hughes, who cofounded Public Storage in 1972 and died in 2021.
Gustavson’s group “submitted a bid for consideration” to the MLS league office, a representative for the group told Sportico in a statement.
“The investment group will privately finance this endeavor and is not connected to any of the recently announced arena ideas in Las Vegas,” the statement read. “In the coming weeks and months, we look forward to the opportunity to share more, however, out of respect for the league’s deliberations and community stakeholders, we are refraining from sharing details of our proposal. We look forward to continuing to work for a positive outcome for the game, the fans, the league and Las Vegas.”
A rep for MLS confirmed that the league received a proposal from the Gustavson group but declined further comment. A rep for the Whitecaps, which are worth about $450 million according to Sportico‘s latest numbers, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
There’s very little about Grant Gustavson available online. Bio notes shared by the group’s representative said he “stands at the intersection of legacy and vision, carrying forward a tradition of excellence while defining a path distinctly his own.” The bio also said he has worked with the University of Southern California athletic department to establish its NIL programs, and that he is “heavily involved” in his family’s farm. He is a USC grad and currently lives in Las Vegas.
USC’s athletic department did not respond to a request for comment.
The Whitecaps have been on the market since 2024, and with no potential buyer in sight, MLS owners reportedly met earlier this month to discuss the future of the franchise. Las Vegas was presented as a potential landing spot for the franchise, as well as several other markets. To this point, no firm decision has been made for the league to depart Vancouver, nor has a relocation fee been set by MLS.
